ONE of VPI’s most popular turntables, the “entry-level” Scout, gets updated and re-introduced to vinyl lovers. VPI claims the new Scout is so simple to set up, you can get it running in mere minutes.
It looks – and why are we not surprised? – quite like the costlier Prime that has been drawing rave reviews in recent months. One look at the Scout and you figure it’s typical of a VPI product – solidly engineered and built to last.
Here are the specs, as provided by VPI:
– 1.25-inch thick premium textured vinyl covered MDF bonded to a 12 gauge steel plate.
– Machined 1 3/8-inch thick 6061 aluminium platter.
– The platter rotates on an oil bath bearing and fitted to shaft with a #2 Jacob’s Taper for a concentric rigidly mounted coupling.
– The bearing has a PEEK thrust disc and machined graphite impregnated brass bushings using a Thompson Engineering 60 Rockwell case hardened shaft.
– 300 RPM AC synchronous motor in a separate steel housing and driving the platter with smooth, quiet operation.
– A screw-down record clamp that eliminates warps.
But… get your own cartridge. We figure most vinyl diehards would prefer to do this anyway.
The Scout can also be upgraded with a Prime Platter, VTA on the fly, periphery ring, stainless steel centre weight, 3D printed tonearm and ADS (Analogue Drive System). Hmm… we’d stick with the basic model, otherwise might as well get the Prime!
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